MAFIA DEFINITIVE EDITION
Remake presentation
Hangar 13 closes the revision of the Mafia trilogy with the release of this fantastic remake of the 2002 video game. The models, animations, and lighting are all new, and the gameplay is completely new, yet the essence of the original is never lost. This means that, almost 20 years later, we can enjoy one of the best Mafia video games of all time again.
Setting and protagonist
Maffia Definitive Edition takes place in the 1930s in the city of High Vent, a North American city plunged into a terrible economic recession following the crash of '29 and oppressed by strict prohibition. Our protagonist is Tomas Angelo, an Italian-American taxi driver who is seduced by the easy money of the Mafia and begins working to make a name for himself within the family. He works for Tom Sawyer and may have gotten a few things out of him, and maybe Don Morello will give you a taste for money. The story follows the lines of the original, maintaining all its narrative charm and enjoying very well-developed characters. However, Hangar 13 has taken advantage of the remake to introduce small changes to the plot. Characters like Sarah Poli and Sam have gained prominence, and their personalities and motivations have been delved into a little more. The cinematics have also been redone from the ground up, respecting the work.
Original Enjoying new facial animations, new dubbing, including Spanish, and a visual finish much closer to the aesthetics of The Godfather cinematic trilogy, as he ended up with a bullet in the back of the head. If we kill him, we'll do the police a huge favor. He was a master rapist himself, since he was also the son of a councilman. Playable, it's an open-world action title in which quality prevails over quantity, with the narrative being the central axis of the experience. This makes us enjoy a very cinematic video game, including stealth phases, chases, races, and many shootouts. The missions are generally varied and entertaining, although some have become outdated. There are inexplicable difficulty spikes, and the final stretch is more monotonous.
Gameplay and combat
Enemy AI now behaves more realistically. A much-needed update has also been made. Weapons have also changed significantly, offering a much more realistic and satisfying experience. The cover system is another major new feature, allowing us to protect ourselves from enemy fire and move without taking damage. This mechanic works well, although the character's interaction with the environment is too clumsy, something that detracts from the dynamics and can be frustrating at times. Finally, hand-to-hand combat has been revamped, although it is still too simple.
Conclusion and final assessment
Maffia Definitive Edition is a great example of a carefully crafted remake that knows how to modernize itself without losing an ounce of its original essence. The main focus of the adventure remains the narrative, but the gameplay has also been successfully retouched, despite some flaws. The mission set maintains the original structure, although time has taken its toll on the design of certain stages, revealing simple and repetitive developments on an audiovisual level. The finish is outstanding, making it clear that this is a remake with all the necessary elements. New cinematics, dubbing, and a soundtrack of engravings and a photorealistic city are its main strengths.
However, the High Vent is too empty and, unfortunately, is relegated to a huge and beautiful setting. Ultimately, the return of Mafia with such a carefully crafted remake is the perfect excuse to play it again almost 20 years later and an essential opportunity for players who If you didn't enjoy it at the time, delve into one of the best mafia titles in history.
